Football briefs: Familiar faces could be fading from scene

In addition to the changes considered by the Rams, there are NFL whispers on the Giants, Lions and Bengals, as well as Fantasy Buzz from Pro Football Weekly staff.

Pro Football Weekly staff

Head coach Jim Haslett breathed a sigh of relief after determining that OLT Orlando Pace is likely to miss only a couple of games with a right knee injury that initially looked like it might land the seven-time Pro Bowler on injured reserve for the remainder of the season.

But the way we hear it, even though team insiders consider Pace the most consistent performer on the Rams’ offensive line so far this season, his lack of durability — only 18 starts the past three seasons — may not bode well for his future beyond this season in St. Louis.

“He really wants to keep playing. He knows that all his injuries the last few years are hurting his legacy,” a team insider said of Pace. “But he’s missed a ton of games, and it looks like the time has come for the Rams to take a hard look at that fact.”

We hear Pace isn’t the only longtime star player on the Rams who could be cast aside in what many believe will be a major rebuilding effort this offseason.

It’s also starting to look more and more like veteran WR Torry Holt, who complained earlier this season about being phased out of the offense, might follow in the footsteps of former Rams WR Isaac Bruce, who relocated to San Francisco this season after being released by the Rams.

“I put the odds at 50-50,” the insider said of the prospect of Holt sticking with the team. “I think it would be a mistake to let him go, because he’s got a high cap number ($7.85 million), and I still think he’s got some juice. But it’s become clear Donnie Avery is the new go-to guy.”

Also on the injury front, the word is that Rams RB Steven Jackson, who early last week was ruled out of his fourth game in five weeks due to a strained quadriceps in his right leg, is expected to miss maybe one more game before possibly being able to play the final month of the season.

“The second opinion he got on the injury didn’t show anything serious, so he should be back soon,” the insider said. “They just tried to bring him back too soon (for the Week Nine game against Arizona, when he appeared tentative, gaining only 17 yards on seven carries).

“But in their defense, they were still in the mix at that time.”

NFL whispers

GIANTS: RB Derrick Ward wants to prove he’s a starter, and as a free agent next season it’s very likely that the team will not be able to afford both Ward and Brandon Jacobs, whose contract also is up. Some NFL teams actually favor Ward over Jacobs, who might have a shorter NFL career because of the way he runs, and we know the Giants like Ward very much. It will be one of the big stories of the offseason.

LIONS: QB Daunte Culpepper has a good chance at opening next season as the team’s starter, even if the team’s front office and coaching staff are hanging in the balance. With Dan Orlovsky set to hit free agency, he might choose to jump ship, and there is not enough confidence in Drew Stanton right now to start him for a winless team, so no matter who is coaching this team, Culpepper could turn out to be the most attractive option as things stand now.

BENGALS: Rookie OLT Anthony Collins turned in a very good performance in his first career start in Week 12, holding his own vs. Steelers ROLB James Harrison and looking very much like he has a bright future at the position. The Bengals have been high on Collins, and OL coach Paul Alexander is renowned for his work with young linemen, but it is safe to say the play of the fourth-round draft choice exceeded expectations.

The Fantasy Buzz

As long as you can stomach some turnovers, 49ers QB Shaun Hill could be a decent fantasy option with which to finish out the season. In his last three games, the passer has averaged 244.3 yards, two TDs and one interception — very respectable numbers no matter how you cut it. With some soft pass defenses still on the schedule, Hill might have a couple more performances like he did Sunday at Dallas (21-of-33 passing, 303 yards, two TDs, one INT) before it’s all said and done. He’s probably the best QB left on your waiver wire.

49ers WR Bryant Johnson is another 49er that might be worth adding in deeper leagues. With injuries hitting the team’s receiving corps hard, Johnson has seen his playing time increase and has had four catches for 56 yards in each of the last two games, grabbing a TD in Week 11. With San Francisco’s defense playing horribly, QB Shaun Hill is going to have to throw a lot to keep the Niners in games, and Johnson appears to be his No. 2 target after Isaac Bruce.

If you’re looking to get a receiver on the cheap who could explode in the fantasy playoffs, make a run at Bernard Berrian of the Vikings. He has been in a terrible rut as of late, catching just four passes for 52 yards in his last three outings. But with a schedule that includes pass-friendly defenses like Chicago, Detroit, Arizona and Atlanta, Berrian should get things turned around, especially if he and QB Gus Frerotte can recapture their midseason chemistry.

For more NFL news and daily fantasy football advice, visit ProFootballWeekly.com.

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